Marker for John Nelson Lynch and his wife, Rosanna Frances (Dennison).

Today I cross over to my husband’s paternal side of the family, who, in contrast to my relatively recent immigrant ancestors, are Lynches descended from William Lynch, an 18th-century resident of Brunswick County, Va. William had an excitingly high number of children — 34 by one count. My husband and children descend from William’s son Meredith.

Although I really enjoyed discussing genealogy with my late father-in-law, there’s no way I could claim expertise on this family, which is a genealogical cottage industry in its own right. A fascinating book called “Our Lynch Line” (1975), compiled by Cecil Pryor, brings together an enormous amount of data and is in the holdings of the Family History Library.

This headstone belongs to John Nelson Lynch, my husband’s great-grandfather, Sept. 5, 1860-June 6, 1917, and his wife, Rosanna Frances (Dennison), Feb. 28 1857-May 1, 1928. John Nelson was born in Washington County, Ky. but as an adult lived in Grayson County, where he farmed and taught school. He was also a Baptist preacher who rode from church to church on horseback, according to my father-in-law, who was four when John Nelson died.

I haven’t yet visited this cemetery myself — the photo is from one of my sisters-in-law. Even several years ago when it was taken, the condition of the stone presented a challenge, so I wonder what the situation is now. At any rate, since I live pretty far away from this churchyard, I’m glad to have this photo.